Palembang Indonesia, located just below the Equator in exotic South Sumatra, is well prepared for this 37th Stop of the Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup Series of the International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF). This will take place next weekend on May 3rd/5th. Having hosted a highly successful World Cup Stop for the first time at the famous Jakabaring Sports City Complex only last November, this return visit to Palembang promises to attract huge crowds of spectators once again. It will also be Webcast live on www.IWWF.tv.

 
With Wakeboard now on the shortlist for possible addition to the 2020 Olympic Games, interest has never been higher within the large global Boardsports community and their fans. World Cup athletes who have qualified for this Stop will fly the flags of twenty five countries including Australia, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Russia, Singapore, Sweden, South Africa, Thailand, and USA.

The big question this time is, will some of the youngest World Cup qualifiers steal the headlines from the established super-stars this time around? There are several good reasons to ask.
 
Resulting from many outstanding World Cup performances at Mandurah in Western Australia in March, a few current World Cup leaders have already created real surprises by taking the lead at this stage as they outperformed some current World Champions and World Record Holders. We are therefore guaranteed a World Cup thriller on May 3rd/5th.

 
Let's look at the possibilities. In Women’s Shortboard, the 17 year-old sensation, Erika Lang USA, actually outscored the current World Record Holder, Clementine Lucine FRA, to lead the Series at this stage. If fact, her personal best score is not that far off a World Record. Can the youngster repeat her Mandurah success in Palembang ? Watch out also for Malaysia’s sensation Aaliyah Yoong. At an extraordinary nine years of age, she is by far the youngest ever to have competed at this level in the World Cup Series. Already she is the youngest Gold Medalist of all time in the Southeast Asian Games. Having a brother Alex who competed as a Formula 1 Grand Prix driver some years ago, nobody doubts her drive for success ! Who knows what she may achieve when she takes on the World Cup leaders on this occasion ? The experience will be invaluable for this rising star.
 
In Jump, at the last World Cup Stop in Mandurah, young newcomer Jacinta Carroll AUS, the U21 World Champion in 2010, although just 20 years of age, took the gold medal to share the spotlight with the Men’s Jump super-star, Freddy Krueger USA who continues his incredible run of success on the Ramp. Both Krueger and Carroll will fight hard to retain their World Cup lead at this stage.
 
In Men’s Shortboard, the more experienced athletes are expected to reach the Podium. Jimmy Siemers USA, a past World Champion, took all by surprise when he captured the Mandurah World Cup title in style in March to defeat the current World Champion and World Record Holder, Aliaksei Zharnasek BLR.
 
In Wakeboard, the young talents are also the ones to watch. While the 19 year-old reigning Men’s World Cup Champion and super-star Harley Clifford AUS had a close call in Mandurah with 20 year-old Shota Tezuka JPN snapping at his heels, he remains the favorite on current form. The Women’s event delivered another real surprise at the last Stop. Australia’s Bec Gange stunned all by outperforming the reigning 2012 World Cup Champion Raimi Merritt USA. This will again guarantee a thrilling battle in the Women’s Wakeboard event.
 
Overall, it looks like this could be the World Cup Stop where experience might just struggle to conquer youth on this occasion. We will know the outcome for certain as the sun sinks over the horizon on the beautiful City of Palembang in South Sumatra, Indonesia, next weekend.
 
Governor H. Alex Noerdin of South Sumatra and H. Muddai Madang, Chairman KONI Sumsel, can feel justly proud of the excellent facility at the Jakabaring Sports City Complex, constructed especially for the Southeast Asian Games in 2011. Recognised now as a high quality Waterski & Wakeboard World Cup venue, Indonesian athletes will certainly benefit in major competitions in the years ahead from having such a wonderful arena for training and development.
 
MasterCraft will again provide the competition boats and support services as they have done since the inauguration of the World Cup Series in 2004.

IWWF
4/29/2013